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UNIVERsITY OFVERMOmr------,
JUN 25 1992
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TANT ATTENDED TI lE U.S.
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CAN A VERMONT SOCI ALI ST
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TI lE NEW YORK J EW GOT
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SrI Y OF CHI CAGO, AND STU.L
LOOKS LI KE A SOMEWHAT
By Kevin J . Kelley
Correspondent
DI SHEVELED AcnYlST.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Vermont Times
. . . I n d e p e n d e n t ' s D a y : S a n d e r s o n P e r o t
Continued (rom Page 1
Connections in the right
places helped make the capi-
talist entrepreneur one of the
wealthiest men in the world.
Commitment to causes has al-
ways mattered most to the
socialist, who lives on his salary.
But the Texas ranger and the
Burlington red also have a few
things in common. Both stand
uncompromisingly apart from
the two- party system. Each has
attracted a sizable and devoted
following with his promise to
shake up the political status
quo. One got elected to Congress.
The other might become presi-
dent.
So what does Bernie Sanders
think of Henry Ross Perot?
It's a mixed, measured as-
sessment, not fiercely critical
and not fawningly enthusiastic.
Sanders duly notes some key
points on which he and Perot
agree: they're opposed to the
Gulf war, pro-choice, eager to
create good-paying industrial
jobs. But Sanders the ideologue
is critical of Perot's no- issues
campaign style, where the
Texan has managed so far to ride
the polls without having to com-
mit to any controversial posi-
tions.
Bernie Sanders' opinion of
Ross Perot is more than just a
political curiosity this year. Not
only is Perot bringing new atten-
tion to third-party politics - a
cause Sanders has championed
for decades - but as the pos-
sibility of an election decision in
the House of Representatives
looms larger, Sanders' vote
takes on unusual gravity.
The U.S. Constitution speci-
fies that ifno presidential can-
didate wins a majority of the
popular vote, the House elects
the president, with each state
having one vote, thus giving
Sanders the same clou t as
California and its 52 delegates
in what would be a very close
contest. Sanders also carries the
added advantage of being able to
cast his vote without consulting
other members of the delegation
or party and according to his
own unique political views.
leadership. Yes, leadership is
important, but we also have the
right to know about the ideas
and programs a candidate
proposes to deal with the crises
facing this country."
Perot has yet to discuss na-
tional health care with any
specificity, Sanders noted, nor
have Perot's overall budget
priorities been clarified.
''I'm offended by his position
on gays, not allowing them to
serve in the cabinet," Sanders
added. "I'm very nervous abou t
some of the things he'd said and
done in regard to civil liberties."
Such attitudes and traits make
Sanders wonder whether Perot
may have "a latent authori-
tarian personality."
The anti-establishment bil-
lionaire may have a hypocritical
strain as well, Sanders implied.
''Here is a guy who claims to be
Mr. Outsider who in 1974 con-
tributed more money to Demo-
cratic and Republican can-
didates than did anyone else in
the entire country." Perot's
description of Ronald Reagan as
"a great president" is hardly a
hallmark of a genuine insur-
gent, Sanders added.
P
erot has certainly been good
for Bernie Sanders. As the
Congress's lone ind e-
pendent, Sanders attracted
some early curiosity as a novelty
item but has since been ignored
by a power structure that revol-
ves around the two established
parties.
But the possibility that
Sanders could cast a key vote in
a House election of the next
president has this other inde-
pendent's name dancing on
of Health and Human Services.
Sanders owes nothing to either
party, but ideologically he is
closer to the Democrats. Still, a
cabinet position is hard to turn
down. What to do?"
In real life, Sanders refuses to
comment on such a hypothetical
and rather far-fetched situation.
He says it's too SOon to decide
how he might vote if the House
were called upon to break a
presidential deadlock. But it's
fairly clear Sanders will never
cast a ballot for Bush, no matter
what he might get in return.
"I'll do everything I can to
help defeat George Bush who, in
my opinion, has been an ab-
solute disaster as president,"
Sanders declared. "This will be
my main goal in the presidential
race."
s
owhom does he favor a s an
alternative to Bush - Clin-
ton or Perot? "I have strong,
strong differences with Clinton,"
Sanders emphasized, adding,
"On the other hand, he's been
saying some halfway decent
things."
And while cautioning that he
does not wish to "rip" Perot,
Sanders was turned off by what
he sees a s the billionaire's inten-
tion of buying the presidency.
"That's not what democracy
means," the Vermonter intoned.
But Sanders is plainly im-
pressed by the ease and alacrity
with which Perot has apparently
shattered the Republican and
Democratic political monopoly.
"I've been saying for a long
time how weak people's allegian-
ces are to the two-party system,"
Sanders noted. ''But I must say,
even I - who have been talking
11
emost surprising feature of
Sanders' assessmen t of
Perot is that Bernie likes
him. "Like" might be going too
far, but for the strident socialist
to view a billionaire business-
man and paramilitary enthu-
siast with anything less than
class-conscious scorn is news it-
self. Perhaps it's further proof of
Perot's chameleon-like charm;
or perhaps evidence of Sanders'
mellowing.
In an interview last week,
Sanders ticked off the policy some unlikely lips.
standa he and Perot agree on. The Washington Post for J une
The independent congressman 9 carried a long, semi-satirical
noted that the independent piece premised on just this
presidential hopeful diff"rs from scenario. Headlined "J anuary
George Bush and Bill Clinton on 1993: As Vermont Goes, So Goes
the issue of the proposed free- the Nation?", the Post article
trade pact with Mexico. Perot, in fantasized that six months from
Sanders' estimation, has taken now Congress' socialist "lonely
the correct position by attacking guy" has suddenly become ''Mr.
the agreement as a threat to Popular." With neither Bush,
American jobe. Clinton or Perot able to scrape
Sanders approvingly noted, together the needed 26-vote
as well, that Perot recently met majority in the House, Sanders
on separate occasions with J esse is being assiduously courted by
J ackson and with a delegation of the likes of Wavs and M""no
mayors headed by Boston's Ray Committee Chair Dan Ros-
Flynn. Because Sanders regards tenkowski, a machine Demo-
J ackson and Flynn as political erat, and Republican Whip Newt
allies, their basically positive Gingrich, a bellicose right-
evaluation of Perot affects the winger.
congressman's own opinion. "Suppose the Democrats offer
At the same time, Sanders is Sanders a subcommittee chair-
put offby Perot's coy vagueness manship and full membership in
on many topics. "I'm offended by the Democratic Caucus," Post
his spokespersons saying that reporter Guy Gugliotta specu-
people don't want to hear about latad. "Suppose Bush promises
" iseuea,thattheyonlyeare-about>, to8flflOibt8aB~~tary
about this for many, many years
- am truly amazed at how weak
the whole thing is proving to be,
how suddenly it's coming apart."
Even as he admired Perot's
achievement, Sanders warned
that the volunteer energy spark-
ing the Texan's candidacy
should not be confused with an
issue-oriented popular move-
ment.
'There's a real problem with
the tendency of this nati~n,
which is certainly not very POI~tl-
cally sophisticated, to look to 1D~
dividuals to solve our problems,
Sanders observed. "The only
way this country will address
these problems in a meaningful
way is through a grassroots
movement that focuses on a
progressive agenda. Don't con-
fuse the excitement around the
Perot phenomenon with .that
kind of movement. People WIll be
making abig mistake if they look
upon Perot as some kind of
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